Where would you like to sign in?

Remploy Crusade Begins in Scotland

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwire - Aug. 28, 2007) - Remploy employees threatened with the sack are taking part in a road show crusade, beginning in Aberdeen, to prevent the closure of 43 Remploy factories.

The Remploy crusade will start in Aberdeen on the 28th August 2007 travelling through Scotland, England and Wales and calling at all Remploy factory sites that are earmarked for closure.

The General Secretaries of the three unions involved, Unite, GMB and Community, have given their 100% backing to the tour and are calling on the public to support the crusade from start to finish.

Remploy employs 3,000 people in the UK. 2,300 of these workers are disabled and work at sites under threat of closure. Three sites in Scotland under immediate threat, Aberdeen, Lanark, and Glasgow Hillington.

The Remploy Crusade will culminate at the Unite 'March with a Message' march on the Labour Party Conference in Bournemouth on Sunday 23rd September.

John Quigley, Unite's Scottish Regional Secretary said:

"This will be a truly historic event and it has to succeed otherwise many disabled people will find themselves out of work and without hope for the future. I would rather we did not have to do this but Remploy and the Government leave us no choice. We will not stand by and allow the closure of these factories.

"The crusade for Remploy kicks off in Scotland and we will do all we can to ensure total and full support for beginning of this epic struggle."

The Remploy employees and representatives of Unite, GMB and Community unions will visit over 60 Remploy factory sites throughout the UK and will hold many public meetings and rallies en route.

Media and photo-opportunity

The crusade will start off in Aberdeen on the 28th of August at 8.30am when the campaign will be launched.

They will then head off to Dundee arriving at 1.30pm then Cowdebeath for 4.30pm.

On the 29th the Remploy crusade will visit Edinburgh at 8.30am (Edinburgh 13/16 South Gyle Crescent, South Gyle IE, EH12 9EB) and at 1.00pm it will be in Lanark then Glasgow for 7.30pm where there will be a rally/public meeting. (Glasgow Hillington 24 Watt Road, G52 4RY)

The campaign is also asking for any donations. Cheques should be made payable to the 'Remploy Fighting Fund' and sent to Phil Davies, GMB National Officer, 22/24 Worple Road, Wimbledon SW19 4DD.